Paper feeding device for writing machines



. Aug. 26, 1947. c. M11-HIM ETAL Y' 2,426,333

PAPER FEEDING DEVICE FOR WRITING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1941 2 sheets-sheet I /Cdmi ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1947. l L.C.ANTR1M`ETAL 2,426,333

PAPER FEEDING DEVICE FR WRITING MACHINES Filed Apri; 24, 1941 2 shawls-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 26, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE PAPER FEEDING DEVICE FOR WRITING MACHINES Application April 24, 1941, Serial No. 390,024

13 Claims. 1

rIhis invention relates to a feeding means for a typewriting or the like machine.

Heretofore, continuous strips of stationery in superposed relation have been fed through a machine by a positive feed means carried by the platen or disposed above the platen to cooperate with the apertures in the strips to draw the strips thereover. If the platen is provided with pinwheels foy( feeding the strips as they are passed therearound, diiiiculties have been encountered in the pins properly engaging the apertures in the strips because of the offsetting of the apertures due to the shifting of the strips in the pile as they are carried around the platen which has a short radius of curvature.

f the feeding means is positioned so as to draw the strips over the platen, a heavy pull is required to carry the strips through the machine and around the platen and this pull on the walls of the apertures in the strips may tear the paper of the strips and break out the apertures.

The present invention provides an improved means for positively feeding the strips into and out of writing position and comprises a single positive feeding mechanism driven from the machine which engages the continuous strips prior to their passage to the platen to feed them from a supply and position them in a writing position on the platen, and also engage the strips after they have left the platen to draw them away from writing position and out of the machine.

Preferably, the feeding mechanism or unit utilizes wheels or sprockets having uniformly spaced feeding pins thereon. The unit is separate from the platen and in spaced relation therewith so that the pins thereon are adapted to engage apertures in the strips of a pile as it is guided in its passage from the supply and act to propel the pile of strips toward and control the positioning of them in writing position on the platen. After the strips have passed over the platen, it is carried into engagement with the pinwheels and again fed thereby to advance the strip from writing position and out of the machine.

The pile of strips in its travel is guided by suitable means so that it moves through a path having but a slight radius of curvature while in position to be engaged by the pins on the pinwheels for both feeding operations. This slight curvature will not produce any appreciable offsetting of the strips in the pile so that the pins carried by the pinwheels may readily move into feeding relation with the apertures.

The pull on the strips necessary to move them from the supply and through the machine, ac-

cording to the present invention, is, therefore, divided between the two points of engagement, and in neither case will be sufficient to cause the apertures to be torn or broken out due to excessive force applied thereto.

If desired, means may be provided for picking up the leading ends of the strips, as they are fed from the platen, and conduct them to the feeding unit in order that the pins thereon can readily engage the apertures therein and automatically start the feed of the strips from the machine. This pickup may comprise one or more auxiliary rollers disposed on the shaft between `the pinwheels and having a roughened or friction surface to engage and carry the ends of the strips into feeding relation with the pinwheels.

After the auxiliary rollers have picked up the leading ends of the strips and conducted them to the pinwheels, they will engage the undersurface of the lowermost strip and support the pile in its extended position between the pinwheels which are usually located adjacent the edges of the strips.

With the feed of the present invention, the stationery is engaged by the pins at two spaced points and simultaneously fed thereby. This forms a loop in the strips which extends around the platen. The length of this loop may vary because different thicknesses of the pile of strips passing over the platen will cause the apertures to shift with respect to the pins so that different apertures in a form length will be engaged by the pinwheels. The strips thus engaged by the pins may or may not lie firmly against the platen. If the pile is not held taut against the platen, poor impressions will be received by the strips from the type. Accordingly, the prese-nt invention provides a means engageable with the strips within said loop to take up any slack in the strips and maintain them taut over the platen.

For use with a predetermined number of strips of known and constant thickness, the position of the pin feed could be so selected that substantially no slack would exist in the loop extending around the platen. However, so that any number or thickness of strips within the capacity of the machine may be used, the pin feed is so located with respect to the platen that a slack stretch is normally provided between the platen and the delivery side of the pinwheel, and this slack is taken up by adjustable means so that the strips are held nrmly enough against the platen to insure good impression being made but light enough to prevent the platen from frictionally feeding the strips.

rIhis take-up means may comprise a bail engaging the strips, preferably as they leave the platen, with just enough pressure to take up the slack without applying undue tension on the strips to cause them to be pressed against the platen and fed thereby.

If desired, the feeding unit may be constructed as an attachment which can be applied to a standard machine, such, for instance, as a tabulating machine having a Carroll carriage, without modification or reconstruction of the machine. While the positive feed means is feeding the strips, the usual friction feed means o-f the machine is released or otherwise rendered inoperative.

In the broader aspects, the present invention provides a single feeding unit for engaging the strips at two points in their travel-one before they reach the platen for feeding the strips toward a writing station on the platen, and the other after they have left the platen to advance the strips from the writing station and out of the machine.

The feeding unit is so arranged that the strips are relieved of feeding relation with the platen and the entire control of the movement of the strips to and from writing position is controlled by the single feeding unit.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine showing the attachment in place.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the paper in its position on the platen as it is being threaded into the machine.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the strip in two-point feeding relation with the pinwheel.

The feeding unit of the present invention can be applied as the standard feed of a writing machine, or as an attachment to be connected to a standard machine. In the drawings, the present invention is illustrated as an attachment which is adapted to be readily applied to a standard tabulating machine 2Q without disturbing or removing the mechanical or electrical parts of the machine. This machine is of the type having a Carroll carriage of the manufacture and sale of the International Business Machine Corporation.

As is well known in such machines, continuous strips of stationery 2i, which usually comprise a plurality of superposed record strips having printed forms thereon, may be passed through the machine over a platen 22, which is driven by a suitable source of power and under a pressure roller 23 cooperating with the platen to be frictionally fed thereby. The printing mechanism of the machine, indicated as a type bar 24, is automatically controlled through mechanism not shown by a card having suitably arranged apertures for presenting predetermined data. The machine scans the data from the card and automatically controls the writing mechanism to translate this information into impressions on the continuous strips. During the writing operation, the platen is advanced line-by-line and the strip fed thereby until all of the required data is inserted on the form.

The machine of the type described is provided with ejecting means, generally indicated as at 25, for quickly rotating the platen and feeding the form from the machine after the writing operation has been completed presenting the first line of writing on the next form in writing position.

It will be noted that the Carroll carriage frictionally feeds the Strips through the machine, and in order to avoid creep and slippage and secure a more accurate control of the strips it is at times desired to positively feed them so that the succeeding forms will be in registration and in proper writing position as determined by the operation of the machine.

The feeding means of the present invention is mounted on an attachment for this machine and is actuated in accordance with the operation of the machine to positively feed the strips to the writing position and away from said position and out of said machine during the writing and ejecting periods.

As shown in the drawings, a front attachment is secured to the frame 26 of the machine and comprises a pair of side plates 2l, 28 secured together by a plurality of rods 29, 3Q. The side plates are each provided with a notch 34 in the front edge thereof, and a notch 36 in the bottom edge which are so located as to fit over existing studs 3l, 38 on the frame 26 of the machine to be supported thereby. The attachment is locked to the frame for movement therewith by suitable latches, not shown, and moves with the frame when the latter is shifted to open position by a handle 4D to permit the threading in of the strips.

According to the present invention, a shaft 4i is journaled in the side plates 21, 28 and has the feeding means secured thereon for rotation therewith. While the feeding means may take many forms capable of positively feeding the strips, in the illustrated embodiment this means comprises a pair of wheels or sprockets 42 each having a plurality of spaced pins 43 projecting from the periphery thereof to engage apertures 44 in the strips and positively advance the strips. The pinwheels are adjustably mounted on the shaft and can be positioned laterally of the strips to properly engage the apertures therein.

Preferably, the shaft is driven from the rotating platen through suitable gearing. As is shown in Fig. 2, shaft 4l has a gear 45 secured thereto. An idler gear 46 is mounted on the side plate and connected to a gear 48 which meshes with gear 45. Gear 48 is rotatably carried by a rod 49 extending between the side plates and located in front of the shaft 4I as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 4. Idler gear 46 is so positioned on the attachment that it meshes with a gear 50 carried by the machine, and driven with the platen shaft, when the attachment is put in position. Thus, as the platen is rotated by its power means during the operation of the machine, the shaft and the pinwheels carried thereby will be driven in timed relation thereto.

As the pinwheels engage the strips at laterally spaced points usually at the edges of the strips, the present invention provides elongate auxiliary rollers 5I which are mounted on the shaft 4| between the pinwheels and engage the undersurface of the lowermost strip in the pile extending between the pinwheels to support the pile against sagging between the pinwheels.

As will be noted in Figs. 2 to 4, when the attachment is in place, the bottoms of the pinwheels are disposed adjacent the top of the paper table 52 of the machine which guides the strip to the platen. A pair of guide fingers or deflectors 53 are mounted on the rod 30, which is afizegssa located in; back of; the pinwheel. andA above the lower edge thereof,. and extend` under the pinwheeland engage the upper'surface of the paper table toprovide a guiding surface for the strips in: their movement during feeding relation. with the pinwheelas will be explained.

In order to guide the strips from a supply to the feeding means, a backr attachment is employed an'dl comprises; a` pair of side plates 60, 6| secured together by' a1 plurality4 of rods 62 extendingtran'sversely.' ofthe machine as shown in Fig. 1.

This back attachment is mounted on the machine: by'having: ea'chv of' the. side walls" provided with: a. notch.l 63' in its` forward: face adapted: to be' slippedI en'olwise: over. an existing stud 641 on the side Walls of the: machine, and ai notch"v y651i opening: on the under'surfaceJ adapted' to: engage and. be` supported upon another stud 6x6. carried; by the side.` wallsV4 of thee machine.. A. latch plate 6.1. is pivoted: to the side. platesfan'd. is provided; with a hookedl portion 612i normally urged: by gravity t0.

extendl under the' secondi stud` and hold the unit in place. on the machine.4 i

The strips7 asi they feed from the supply, not shown',` passi over thelower. rods 62? and. are supported thereby. The frameV 26. andi attachment carried' thereby is swung. up and. the strips are threadedi therein. by carrying them: over the rod 36'. The guide fingersor deflectors `53 cause the strips to move under thel pinwheel. to a position in which the apertures inthe strips are disposed in the' path of movementof the pins as the pinwheelsare rotated. The pins engage inthe apere tures in the strip.A and iiiositivelyI withdraw it from the supply andi feed it' toward the platen. This engagement of the pins with the strip at the same time controlsthe lateral position of the stripwith respect to the machine.

Itwill be notedrt'hat the rod Sill and paper table support the stripin. such a manner that it travels through a slightly curved; path andi is held in engagement with'- the lower periphery ofthe Wheel for only a small part thereof" when the pins engage the apertures of the strip, This is an advantage, for it enables a'large number off super.. posed strips to-bereadily fed bythe pinsfwithout the difliculties resulting from offsetting of the strips as occur whenV said! stripsl are fedi through a curved path of relatively short radius. The greater the numberof strips iny the pile, the greater is the offset for the same radius. Of course, if only one strip is usedf, it may be carried through a substantial curve-and operate satisfactorily as the problem of offsetting wouldnot be present.

The strips are separated from the pins as they are carried over the'top of thepaper table and are guided therealong. The strips are then fed around the platen, whereupon the frame maybe closed.

During the feeding of the leading ends ofthe strips throughA the. machine, the roller 23 is main'- tained in cooperative relation with the platen to frictionally feed; the saiolends. The ends ofthe strips thus frictionally fed engage a guide plate lll and are deflected? upwardlyt'ovvard the pinwheels.

In order to insurerthatthestrips willi againbe picked-up and fed by the pinwheel, means are provided for engaging'andmoving theends ofthe strips to a position in whichthe apertures therein Will be engaged by the pins. In t-he preferred form of the invention, the elongated auxiliary supporting rollers 51|. are-utilized tor carry out this function. by? providing' them vvitli` a'. transversely corrugated' or otherwise roughened.' surface, asat 51a; whichwill pick up' the ends' of the strips. andi carry them up into a position inwhich the' pins on the upper surface ofthe pinwheels engage'thei aperturesy and. positively advance the strips from, the machine.

Assoon as the pinwheels engage thevapertures and; the positive feeding of the ends ofthe strips: is startedthe rollerA 23A is manuallyl movedto the released position` shown in Fig. 4f, or otherwise" rendered inoperative, and the'strips are nozlonger; frictionally fed by the platen.

If desired, means may be provided forfaiding in the'pickup of the strips by directing thestrpsto' the pinwheel: and holding the strips in engagement with the pinwheels. This may taketheform of fingers li pivotal-ly mounted on the rod. 49? to extend therefrom and are. sol curved at Ita. as to overlie the periphery of the pinwheels. The fin. gers are biased into engagement with the surface of the wheel and are provided with apertures l2 which permit the pins tolmove in their closed path without interference. The portion of the lingersV at 'l Ebwill engage and turn the endsof the strips toward the pinwheels whiley the portion 'Ha will press the stripl against the-periphery of the pinwheels and prevent unintentional disengagementv of thevapertures from the pins.

Asi shown in. Fig. 4, the strips engage only' a smallpart of the upper periphery of the pinwheel and are again, moved in a slightly curved path, thus offsetting of the apertures-is avoidedandf the pins can engage. the apertures in all of thestrips without diiiiculty.` This engagement, however, is suicient to propelthestripV out of the machine.

It will be seen, therefore, that the present inventionY provides a single feeding unit which engages and feeds the strip-to a writing position andf reengages the strip after it' leaves the writin'g'po` sition to advance the strip from the machine;

With this arrangement, the danger of tearing or breaking out of the aperturesis avoided as the pull necessary to carry the-strip through the machine is divided; IThe pull ont` the strips applied by the'pins4 during` their iirst engagement will be only that necessary to remove'the stripsfromthe supply thereof and advance them toward the platen. The pull applied by thepin'sfduring their second engagement is only that required to draw the strips, advanced to the platen, over the platen and out of the machine.

When thev strips engage the feeding means at two points spaced along their length asltheyy pass to and from the platen, they move in opposite directions and' form a loop as is shown in Fig. 4. This loop may be just long enough when one thickness of a pile of strips is used to hold the strips against the platen with a proper tension` to produce a satisfactory inscription -by the Writing means and without suihcient pressure to cause the platen to feed the strip. However, when other piles of strips of other thickness are disposed over the platen, the apertures may be in such` a posion the rod 49 with their inner ends joined by a bail 18. The upper part 'Vla of the arms is so weighted that the bail is urged into the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein it is disposed in the path of movement of the strips and applies sufficient tension to the strips to take up any slack in the loop and hold them sufficiently taut over the platen to receive a satisfactory impression and yet without sufficient pressure to cause the platen to feed the strips. A stop pin 19 is carried by the arms to engage the side plates and prevents the bail from being dragged by the strips into engagement with the pinwheels.

In order to insure disengagement of the strips as they leave the pinwheels, the present invention provides stripper members 80 supported by links 8l mounted on rod 30 and disposed adjacent each of the pinwheels so as to overlie the back of the pinwheels. These stripper members have a groove 80a in the wheel-engaging face to permit the pins to pass without interference', Each of the members has a flat upper surface 82 for engaging under the strips and causing the strips to be lifted from the pins as the wheels rotate. The stripper members may also be provided with a curved guiding surface 83 which is interposed between the pins and strip and adapted to guide the strips as they pass over the rod 30 so as to prevent the pins from engaging the strips until the strips have been turned into a position substantially tangential with the wheel and the apertures are in position to be engaged by the pins.

To prevent the strips as they leave the upper surface of the stripper member from interfering with the portion of the strips moving from the supply to the feeding means, the present invention provides a strip-receiving table 85 which is secured to the top rods 62 of the back attachment by clips 86 0r any other suitable securing means. The table 85 overlies the incoming strips and provides a supporting surface to conduct the outgoing strips beyond the end of the machine under the feed of the pinwheels.

In the broader aspects of the invention, the novel feeding means which employs but a single feeding unit for engaging a strip at spaced points for feeding the strip to and from a writing position may be a friction feed means or a positive feed means, other than the pinwheel type illustrated herein, wherein pins are moved in a predetermined path.

Variations and modications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. In a writing machine, a platen for supporting for writing operations a plurality of superposed continuous strips having longitudinal rows of feeding apertures; Strip-feeding mechanism including feeding pins, and supporting means therefor mounted for feeding movement at the introductory side of the platen between the portions of the writing strips leading in and leading out of the platen; means for guiding the leadingin portions of the strips into engagement with a plurality of pins on the pin-supporting means whereby the strips are fed to the platen by the positive engagement of these pins With the strips through the feeding apertures therein; means for guiding the leading-out portion of the strips into engagement with a plurality of pins on the pinsupporting means whereby the strips are fed away from the platen by the positive engagement of these pins with the strips through the feeding apertures therein, said pin-supporting means being so located with relation to the platen that the strips are fed to and delivered from the platen in a slack loop and are free of feeding or braking pressure against the platen; and adjustable means acting on the portion of the strips between the first and second engagements of the strips with the pins for taking up excess slack in the loop and holding the strips against the platen with firmness sufficient to insure good writing impressions but not sufficient to apply feeding or braking pressure on the strips against the platen.

2. In a writing machine, a platen for supporting for writing operations a plurality of superposed continuous strips having longitudinal rows of feeding apertures; strip-feeding mechanism including feeding pins and a supporting wheel therefor mounted for rotary feeding movement at the introductory side of the platen between the lower and upper portions of the writing strips leading in and leading out of the platen respectively; means for guiding the leading-in portions of the strips into engagement with a plurality of `pins on the lower side of the pin-supporting wheel whereby the strips are fed to the platen by the positive engagement of these pins with the strips through the feeding apertures therein; means for guiding the leading-out portion of the strips into engagement with a plurality of pins on the upper side of the pin-supporting wheel whereby the strips are fed away from the platen by the positive engagement of these pins with the strips through the feeding apertures therein, said pinsupporting wheel being so located with relation to the platen that the strips fed to and delivered from the platen are slack and free of feeding or braking pressure against the platen; and means acting on the portion of the strips between the upper and lower parts of the pin-supporting wheel for taking up the slack and holding the strips against the platen with rmness sufcient to insure good writing impressions but not suiii- ,cient to apply feeding or braking pressure on the strips against the platen.

3. In a writing machine, a platen for supporting for writing operations a plurality of superposed continuous strips having longitudinal rows of feeding apertures; strip-feeding mechanism including feeding pins and a supporting wheel therefor mounted for rotary feeding movement at the introductory side of the platen between the portions of the writing strips leading in and leading out of the platen; means for guiding the leading-in and the leading-out portions of the strips into engagement with the pins on opposite sides of the pin-supporting wheel whereby the strips are fed toward and away from the platen by the positive engagement of the pins seriatim with the leading-in and leading-out portions of the strips through the feeding apertures therein, said pinsupporting wheel being so located with relation to the platen that the strips fed to and delivered from the platen are slack and free of feeding or braking pressure against the platen; and means acting on the portion of the strips between the first and second engagements of the pins with the strips for taking up the slack and holding the strips against the platen with firmness sufficient to insure good writing impressions but not sufficient to apply feeding or braking pressure on the strips against the platen.

4. In a writing machine, a platen for supporting for writing operations a plurality of superposed continuous strips having longitudinal rows -oi feeding apertures.; strip-feeding mechanism including Afeeding ipins .land Aa supporting wheel .therefor lmounted yfor rotary feeding movement at the introductory side of `the Aplaten between the lowerand upper portions of the writingstrips leading in and leading out of the platen respectively; means :for guiding and leading-in portions of the strips into engagement with a plurality :of pins `on the lower side of the pin-supporting rwheel whereby the strips are Afed to the platen .by the `positive engagement `of these :pins with :the strips through the :feeding apertures therein; :means for .guiding the leading-out Vportion of the strips into engagement Vwith a plurality `of fpins `on the Vupper side of the pin-supporting wheel whereby `the strips are fed away from .the Aplaten `by the positive .engagementfof these pins with the Istrips through the feeding apertures therein,:said pin-supporting wheel being so `located with .relation to ythe platen that the strips are yfed to :and delivered from Athe platen `in a slack loop `and 'are :free of feeding lor braking pressure against the platen; and means acting fon Athe 4portion vof the strips 'between the platen and the rupper side of the pin-supporting wheel for .taking up the 4slack and holding the strips against the platen *with lfirmness sufficient to insure good writing impressions but notsuicient to apply feeding or Tbrak- :ing pressure on the strips against the platen.

5. In a writing machine, va platen for supporting for writing operations a plurality of superposed continuous strips having longitudinal 'rows of feeding apertures; strip-feeding `mechanism including feeding pins and a supporting `wheel therefor mounted for rotary feeding movement at the introductory side -of the lplaten between the portions of the writing lstrips leading in Vand leading out of -the platen; means :for guiding :the leading-in and the leading-out portionsof the strips into engagement with the pins on opposite' sides of .the pin-.supporting wheel whereby the strips are fed toward and away from the platen by the positive engagement of the pins seriatim with the leading-in and leading-out portions of the strips through the feeding apertures therein, said pin-supporting wheel being so located with relation to the platen that the stri-ps fed to and delivered from the platen lie in a loose loop free of feeding or braking pressure against the platen; and a bail acting on Vthe leading-out portion of the strips between t-he platen and the pin-supporting wheel for tak-ing up excessive looseness and holding the strips against Jthe platen xwith firmness sufficient lto insu-re good writing impressions but not sufficient Vto apply feeding `or braking pressure on the strips against the platen.

6. In a writing machine, a platen for supporting for writing 4operations a -plurality of Vsuperposed continuous strips having longitudinal rows of feeding apertures along both lateral margins of the strips; strip-feeding -mechanism including feeding pins and supporting wheels therefor mounted for rotary feeding movement at the introductory side of the platen .between the portions of the writing strips leading in and leading out of the platen; means for guiding the leading-in and leading-out portions of thestrips into engagement with a plurali-ty of pins on each of the pinwheels whereby the strips are fed toward and away from the platen by the positive seriatim engagement of the pins with the leading-in and leading-out portions of the strips through the feeding apertures therein; said pin-supporting wheels being so located with relation to the platen that the strips fed to and delivered from the d'0 :platen are ina slack loop freeof feedingor `braking pressure against the platen; and adjustable vmeans actinglonatheiportionof the strips between wrthe .nrstfand secondfengagements of the pins with .the strips =for taking 4up the excess slack in :the vloop and lholding .the strips against the platen :with :firmness ,sufficient :to insu-re good writing impressions @but not sufficient to apply feeding or braking pressure on .the stripsagainstthe platen.

n'?. iin la writing machine, .a platen for support- `ing for writing operations a :pluralityiof superiposed continuous strips having 'longitudinal rows :ci :feeding apertures.; strip-feeding mechanism Vincluding kfeed-ing pins 4and a `supporting wheel `'therefor mounted ,for rotary feeding movement at the introductory side of theiplatenlbetween the :portionsfof :the writing strips Aleading in and leading out of the platen; means for guiding the *leading-in portions-of the strips into engagement in Aan approximately tangential path with a plurality of pins .on the tlower side -of the Apinwheel whereby the strips are -fed to Vthe platen by the `positive iengagementof the pins with the strips :through Lthe feeding apertures therein means for 'guidingthe leading-out portion of the strips into engagement in an approximately tangential path with a-pluralitypf pins =on `the upper side of the pinwheel whereby the strips are fed away from the platen by the positive engagement of the ypins 'with the stri-ps through -the A`feeding apertures Itherein, `said pinwheel `bei-ng -so 'located with re- =lation -to-the platen that the strips are'fedto and delivered from the-platen in a slack loop free of `feeding .or brak-ing pressure against .the platen; andan-.adjustable mean-sacting on the portion of Athe strips between the first and second engagements of `the strips with lthe pins for taking up 4the slack loop and 'holding the strips against the `platen with firmness sufhcient to insure vgood writing impressions but not suflicient Ato apply feeding orbraki-ng pressure on the strips against the platen.

8. In awritingmachi-ne, a platen for-supporting for Writing operations -a plurality Yof super-posed continuous lstri-ps having longitudinal rows of feeding apertures; strip-feeding 'mechanism includ-ing feeding pi-ns, and supporting means therefor mounted for feeding movement -at the introductory side of the :platen between the portions of the `writing `strips leading in and Ileading `out of the platen; means 'for kguiding the leading-in -portions of the strips into vengagement with a plurality of pins on -the pin-supporting means whereby the `strips -are Ifed to 'the Iplaten by Lthe positive engagement of 'these `pins with the strips through 'the feeding aperturestherein; means for Aguiding the leading-out portion of the strips into engagement with a .plurality of 4,pi-ns on the pin-supporting means whereby the strips are fed away from the 'platen by vthe positive engagement ofthesepins with the strips through the feeding apertures therein, said pin-supportin g means being so located with 'relation ,to the platen that the strips are 4fed to and vdelivered from the platen in a slack loop Ifree of feeding or braking pressure against the platen; means acting on the portion of the strips between the first and second engagements of the strips with the pins for removing excess slack and holding the strips against the platen with firmness suflicient to insure good writing impressions but not sufficient to apply feeding or braking pressure on the strips against the platen; and means bearing on the platen for frictionally feeding the leading end of a pile of superposed strips around 11 the platen to position to be engaged by the upper portion of the pinwheel.

9. In a writing machine, a platen for supporting for writing operations a plurality of superposed continuous strips having longitudinal rows of feeding apertures; strip-feeding mechanism including feeding pins, and supporting means therefor mounted for feeding movement at the introductory side of the platen between the portions of the writing strips leading in and leading out of the platen; means for guiding the leadingin portions of the strips into engagement with a plurality of pins on the pin-supporting means whereby the strips are fed to the platen by the positive engagement of these pins with the strips through the feeding apertures therein; means for guiding the leading-out portion of the strips into engagement with a plurality of pins on the pinsupporting means whereby the strips are fed away from the platen by the positive engagement of these pins with the strips through the feeding apertures therein, said pin-supporting means being so located with relation to the platen that the strips are fed to and delivered from the platen in a slack loop free of feeding or braking pressure against the platen; means acting on the portion of the strips between the first and second engagements of the strips with the pins for removing excess slack and holding the strips against the platen With firmness sufiicient to insure good writing impressions but not suii'icient to apply feeding or braking pressure on the strips against the platen; means bearing on the platen for frictionally feeding the leading end of a pile of superposed strips around the platen to position to be engaged by the upper portion of the pinwheel; and means to automatically lift the leading end up and onto the pins on the upper side of the pinwheels when inserting the strips into the machine.

10. In a Writing machine, a rotatable platen for supporting for writing operations a plurality of superposed continuous strips having longitudinal rows of feeding apertures; means for rotating said platen; positive strip-feeding mechanism including feeding pins for engaging the feeding apertures and a. supporting Wheel therefor mounted for rotary feeding movement at the introductory side of the platen between the lower and upper portions of the writing strips leading in and leading out of the platen respectively; a driving connection between said platen and said strip-feeding mechanism whereby said stripfeeding mechanism is driven in timed relation to the rotation of the platen; means for guiding the leading-out portion of the strips into engagement with a plurality of pins on the pinsupporting means whereby the strips are -fed away from the platen by the positive engagement of these pins with the strips through the feeding apertures therein, said pin-supporting means ybeing so located with relation to the platen that the strips are fed to and delivered from the platen in a slack loop and are free of feeding or braking pressure against the platen; and adjustable means acting on the portion of the strips between the first and second engagements of the strips with the pins for taking up excess slack in the loop and holding the strips against the platen with firmness suflicient to insure good writing impressions but not suicient to apply feeding or braking pressure on the strips against the platen.

11. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for guiding the lead-out portion of the strips into engagement with the pins includes at least one corrugated rotatable member driven with the pin-supporting means for picking up the leading edge of the strips.

12. In a writing machine, a platen for supporting for writing operations a plurality of superposed continuous strips having longitudinal rows of feed apertures; strip feed mechanism disposed above and to the rear of said platen and including feeding pins and a supporting wheel therefor mounted for rotary feeding movement; guide means for guiding the leading-in end toward the strip feeding mechanism and means for picking up the leading-in end of the strips and carrying them up to the feeding mechanism.

13. In a writing machine, a platen for supporting for writing operations a plurality of superposed continuous strips having longitudinal rows of feed apertures; strip feeding mechanism including feeding pins, a supporting wheel therefor and a shaft for said wheel mounted for rotary movement for moving the strips over the platen; guide means for guiding the leading-in end toward the strip feeding mechanism and a corrugated roller mounted on said shaft lfor rotation therewith for picking up the leadingin end of the strips and carrying them up to the feeding mechanism.

LOUIS C. ANTRIM. FRANK SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 853,249 Lundeberg May 14, 1907 889,605 Hewitt June 2, 1908 1,426,804 Adams Aug. 22, 1922 2,067,211 Sherman et al. Jan. 12, 1937 2,158,585 Mabon May 16, 1939 2,171,003 Mabon Aug. 29, 1939 2,255,656 Dreher Sept. 9, 1941 1,884,760 Lake Oct, 25, 1932 2,246,968 Antrim June 24, 1941 2,302,704 Mabon Nov. 24, 1938 2,066,029 Carroll et al. Dec. 29, 1936 2,160,530 Newman May 30, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 491,867 Great Britain 1938 

